It's an exciting journey that of Star Overdrive, a game that, with all its structural limitations, has proven capable of exciting and entertaining, despite the seemingly insurmountable goal that the Roman team of Caracal has placed at the base of the project. It's true, there are some naivety that do not allow it to rise to the level of other great productions of the large Switch software library but it is certainly an excellent starting point for future works, as well as an important spotlight on the crystalline talent of the company. If you are looking for a title that knows how to enhance the exploration of an alien planet, immersed in a sci-fi context inspired by rock and enriched by a series of well-made gameplay and content ideas, the story of Bios and Nous could be for you, especially by virtue of the competitive price at which it is offered.

Without matching the quality and grandeur of other motorsport titles, Milestone has nevertheless made progress with Monster Energy Supercross 25. The game continues in the direction taken with the sixth episode, with improved AI, a physics engine enriched with Evolving Ruts technology, advanced graphics and a meticulous reproduction of the 2025 season of the star-spangled championship. However, Career struggles to make its mark, while the other modes have received only marginal refinements. The expected leap in quality of the series is, once again, postponed.

South of Midnight, all things considered, presents itself to the players as the most conventional of action/adventure games, based on a pleasant, if somewhat repetitive, gameplay structure and supported by refined writing and first-rate artistic direction. It's a shame that the presence of some naivety on the design front does not allow it to reach peaks of excellence, especially if you consider the care instilled in setting up an audiovisual framework of this caliber. More form than substance, therefore, but if you are looking for a good title in which to invest a dozen hours of lightheartedness, perhaps letting yourself be transported by a story capable of touching the strings of the soul, then the new work of Compulsion Games could be for you.

Atomfall has style to spare. We are not faced with a simple "British" re-proposal of titles like Fallout and S.T.A.L.K.E.R.. On the contrary, the work by Rebellion has a soul all its own and a strong character, which could lay the foundations for an excellent IP to carry forward alongside Sniper Elite. The jewel in the crown of the game is the very well-crafted narrative section, with a story (and a lore) to reconstruct trying to unravel a tangle of leads, clues and whispers that come from everywhere. The gameplay has been designed to give the player the greatest possible freedom, putting aside the traditional progression systems in favor of a dynamic management of the skill trees and inventory. The only shame is for some uncertainty from a technical point of view, connected to the (controversial) choice of using a proprietary graphics engine that now needs to be modernized.

Assassin's Creed Shadows marks the continuation, and perhaps the end, of the cycle that began with Origins. However, the episode set in Japan also represents the downward spiral, in terms of quality of some components of the gameplay and content offering, of a structural model that is starting to feel the weight of the years. Shadows is a game that wants to please everyone and that does everything more or less well, but without truly excelling in anything, and - unfortunately - without leaving its mark. The epic of shinobi and samurai leaves open several glimmers of hope for the future. But we hope that, both with DLC tied to the story of Naoe and Yasuke and with the next episodes, the saga can truly start again, rediscovering the ability to amaze us.

Xenoblade Chronicles X was already a monumental game in the last decade, and yet the guys at Monolith Soft have managed to further elevate its quality. The reworked graphics have given us polygonal models that are finally expressive, harmonious in their movements and embellished with lighting that can bring out the details, while the quick reload and other small adjustments made to the combat system have definitively banished the annoying "spectator effect" that the product had inherited from the first Xenoblade Chronicles, ensuring this time that the user is always involved in the combat phases. Between new secondary missions, three additional playable characters, Skells never seen before and above all a rich portion of extra story, Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition represents an unmissable opportunity to return to the planet Mira or at least explore it for the first time.

Quotation forthcoming.

All things considered, the 2025 edition of WWE 2K picks up where its illustrious predecessor left off, continuing to build on the solid foundations laid last year. The gameplay system, despite some historical issues related to multiple matches, is even more robust and fun than usual; the content endowment is, as per tradition, mammoth and generally of a good level, apart from some small qualitative declines in the selection of matches included in the Showcase or in the drafting of the dialogues of My Rise; the visual realization alternates genuinely impressive moments with others in which the need for extra refinements is evident. In essence, if you are passionate about this spectacular sport-entertainment or are simply looking for a title in which to brawl with your friends in the name of fun, WWE 2K25 may be the right choice. So, lace up your boots: the belt will not be won alone!

After the disappointing Atelier Marie Remake and the questionable decision by the development team to make the 25th episode of the main series a gacha game for mobile devices, the future of the Atelier series seems uncertain. With Atelier Yumia in particular, Gust Corporation has perhaps taken more risks than it should have, and we believe that not all bets have been won. The new action-style combat system lacks the strategic component and depth that had made us appreciate the Secret Trilogy so much, and even the process of alchemical synthesis seems cumbersome and unsatisfying. The product recovers a few points thanks to the exploration, now richer and more multifaceted than ever, and an engaging narrative plot, as well as characterized by mature themes. Paradoxically, Atelier Yumia could really captivate those who have never frequented the series, while there is the risk that historical fans will struggle to accept the change of direction desired by the Japanese studio and above all the abandonment of the carefree atmosphere that has always differentiated the brand from other JRPGs. Hoping that Atelier Yumia remains an isolated experiment, we await the completely offline episode of Atelier Resleriana also due out in 2025, which at least on the artistic front seems much more promising.

Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection is a valuable re-release of games from the dawn of one of the most famous card games in the world. The package is rich in terms of gameplay, while the extra materials leave a little to be desired. Good instead in terms of the “quality of life” of the collection, with tricks and enhancements that allow you to avoid the most tedious parts of the original titles and focus on what really matters: the duels. Duels that are the beating heart of at least ten of the works present in the re-release, but which are banned in a couple of more experimental titles, whose presence alone provides freshness to the proposal. If you are a fan of the first hour of the anime, manga or the original card game, this appointment with the past could be for you.

Split Fiction is a true triumph, a priceless title that not only manages to replicate the qualitative heights reached by the Game of the Year 2021 but surpasses them by ascending to even more astonishing levels of inventiveness. It is a title capable of renewing itself minute after minute and maintaining an enviable freshness even after several hours of gameplay, all seasoned with a first-rate artistic direction and impeccable technical realization. Whether you are a fan of Hazelight Studios' production, whether you loved It Takes Two or whether you simply love video games in the purest sense of the word, this is an experience you will not want to miss.

Two Point Museum is a big step forward for Two Point Studios, which intertwines sharp and interesting RPG features in the management mechanics, with expeditions, resource management and objectives to complete to unlock new locations. A work of great finesse that with the constant exploration of the map will end up creating a game within the game, increasing the proposed content and allowing us to increase the hours of fun beyond measure. The only unwelcome note is having imitated the lootboxes in the recovery of relics, but it is a sin that we can overlook.

Tomb Raider IV-VI Remastered is a product similar in objectives to the previous work of Aspyr Media and, due to some of its limitations, it may not be appealing to new generations of players. That said, net of the critical issues related to the original experiences, the work done by the developers is more than appreciable and will delight all fans with a few more years on their shoulders eager to get back to grips with the classic iterations of Tomb Raider.

Monster Hunter Wilds marks the beginning of a new era for Capcom's hunting game, offering a very rich catalog of new features and additions that more than worthily open the race towards the final goal of post-launch support: offering the audience the best Monster Hunter ever. Although the structure of the proposal, full of improvements and strong of an extraordinary internal coherence, marks a remarkable change of pace for the saga, more promising than it is possible to express in the context of a review, the technical defects and the content gaps of the proposal do not allow us to attribute to the game a rating fully in line with its potential. In the same way we absolutely cannot fall below the threshold of excellence, especially considering the solidity of the foundations laid by Capcom at the head of the path in progress of its latest hunting adventure, truly transformative for what concerns the profile of the saga.

PGA Tour 2K25 is the third title developed by HB Studios in five years, and the improvements are clear to see. The new swing mechanics offer a stimulating challenge for veterans and make the game accessible and fun for newcomers. The graphics have been improved, providing a much more realistic and exciting atmosphere on the greens. From a content standpoint, there is little to complain about, apart from the golfer roster which remains rather limited. The additions to the MyPlayer and MyCareer modes are welcome, but the interference of microtransactions proves annoying. It may not be the most beautiful golf simulation on the planet, but PGA Tour 2K25 is certainly the most complete available on the market.

Like a Dragon Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is not a simple side adventure. It has managed to take the right gameplay elements from Infinite Wealth, and then give a healthy refresh to the package with the effective navigation component, between exploration, battles at sea and brawls based on two valid fighting styles. The various pieces of the secondary offer support what is a valid progression system, which encourages the player to have a lot of fun and discover everything the world has to offer. In other words, whether you are a veteran of the series or a newbie, in terms of gameplay the game has what it takes to entertain you for dozens of hours, but there is a rule. You have to keep your brain strictly turned off, because when you turn it on during the plot, the "all you can eat" effect appears: big laughs and abundance, but little substance.

All things considered, Avowed is an Action RPG with all the trimmings enhanced by high-quality writing, as well as a solid gameplay recipe and an artistic direction worthy of praise. The gaming experience is not yet at an optimal level of polish, the combat system is not lacking in slightly anachronistic traits and we did not fully appreciate some structural characteristics of the adventure. Yet, Obsidian's title manages to capture the player with a fascinating and cohesive universe, and if you are a fan of the genre or are looking for a journey capable of transporting you to a fantasy world of rare beauty, you may have just found bread for your teeth.

Despite a few technical flaws that currently penalize only the Nintendo Switch version, and that we hope will be resolved as soon as possible, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a good starting point for the intellectual property of Nippon Ichi Software, which for too many years had rested in deep oblivion. Confining ghosts is a gameplay dynamic that is damned complex and difficult to master, but given its uniqueness, it wouldn't surprise us at all if this allowed the franchise to compete with the best exponents of the genre. Even twenty years after the debut of the original, it would seem that Phantom Brave still has something to say and a lot to teach contemporary strategy games.

Citizen Sleeper 2 doesn't overturn the formula of its predecessor, but it improves it in every way. The story is better paced and broader in scope, thanks to the possibility of exploring the Starward Belt far and wide. The cast is larger and the characterization of the characters is deeper, so much so that it is impossible not to develop a deep empathy with all the supporting characters, starting with Serafin. The game mechanics are more immediate, thanks to the purging of the less effective elements of the predecessor and a cleaner interface. The constant sense of having someone on your tail, of being stuck in a ruined body and of not having time and resources, provides further pathos, gluing you to the screen for hours and amplifying the emotions felt. If all this were not enough to make Citizen Sleeper 2 a small masterpiece, we can add a harsh and subtle social criticism, deep and sharp, but not without shades of optimism.

Civilization 7 marks a true revolution for the saga, a profound change that challenges tradition and, at the same time, manages to preserve its essence. Firaxis has had the courage to rewrite the rules, pushing beyond the boundaries of the formula consolidated for over 30 years to the edge of stagnation. The innovations are not without imperfections: some systems, such as trade and resource management, may be difficult at first, and the fracture between the eras can leave a feeling of confusion for those looking for a more fluid and coherent progress. However, the seventh chapter of the legendary strategic series has still had the power to capture us with original challenges, sometimes complex, but equally stimulating. The game is able to give satisfaction in abundance and the hours already spent in this chapter testify to the talent of Firaxis, capable of holding firm to the throne of video game strategy. Recent attempts to undermine the reign of Civilization have been unsuccessful, and this new chapter proves that, despite the evolutions, the essence of the series is more alive than ever: Civilization has changed, Civilization is back.

Seven years after the release of Kingdom Come Deliverance, we find ourselves closing the examination of its sequel with similar considerations, but to be placed in the context of an overall better epic, supported by writing and a quest design of monumental quality. Yes, despite the expansion of the team and the greater resources available to the project, the sequel by Warhorse Studios once again shows rather evident roughness that, albeit to a lesser extent, prevent the title from fully revealing its extraordinary potential, but the proposal still stands at truly high levels, which make the title a "must have" for fans of role-playing games. The organic nature of the proposal, its unique character and the excellent relationship between quantity and quality make Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 a precious experience, which clearly reaffirms the talent of the Prague studio.

Ninja Gaiden 2 is and remains a masterpiece of the genre, but "Black" is a lazy and dull "deluxe remaster" operation, which does not correct or modernize the most critical aspects of the original and, in some ways, worsens them. However, Itagaki's masterpiece remains a must and having the possibility of enjoying it in a more modern and up-to-date graphic guise certainly has its appeal.

Despite boasting an excellent cast of characters (with the exception of Asbel himself) and a combat system second only to the more recent Tales of Arise, during the PS3 era Tales of Graces f was not particularly well received by Western audiences, for reasons that we still struggle to fully understand. Although the remaster added relatively little to the original offering, such as the Japanese dubbing and some quality of life improvements, we are of the opinion that the multiplatform re-release of Tales of Graces f was more than necessary. Sixteen years after its debut on Nintendo Wii (a version never marketed on our side of the globe) and thirteen since the launch of the European edition for PlayStation 3, this time the story, the protagonists, the extraordinary combat system and last but not least the soundtrack of Tales of Graces could realistically win over fans of the genre and of Bandai Namco's franchise, which have also increased thanks to the most recent episodes. If you missed it back then, now is the perfect time to give it (and yourself) a second chance.

Sniper Elite: Resistance doesn't add or take away from the series' typical formula. The spectacular, varied and bloody kill cams remain spectacular and the level design of different levels allows for different approaches to completing missions. At the same time, the series is starting to feel the need for a refresh on several fronts, which we hope will arrive together with a new numbered iteration.

Star Wars Episode I: Jedi Power Battles is a good remaster of a title that has some structural flaws, some evident at the time of its release and others that have emerged over time. There is no point in hiding the problems: the camera management is antiquated, the controls far from the modern standard, the uncertainties in the registration of inputs and in the AI ​​of the enemies are difficult to forgive (also because they were easily resolvable, with a fine work on the game code). On the other hand, however, we have a work of preservation of a much-loved classic in the world of Star Wars, which puts on the table a classic but modernized aesthetic, renewed textures, a nostalgic soundtrack and atmospheres that will surely thrill George Lucas fans. The replayability is high, while the local multiplayer and the additional modes (primarily the one-on-one one) add depth to the game. Recommended, but only for Star Wars fans!

Fifteen years after the dazzling debut of Donkey Kong Country Returns on Wii, the platformer by Retro Studios returns to Nintendo Switch in a remastered edition. While in terms of content, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD simply brings together in one place what was offered by the original and the subsequent porting for 3DS, the graphical update is impressive, with DK Island showing off a renewed richness of color. With a high-profile level design and a world overflowing with secrets, Donkey Kong Country Returns HD presents Nintendo Switch owners with a platformer beloved by fans and critics alike, capable of standing the test of time with flying colors.

Dynasty Warriors: Origins is a less revolutionary title than expected, as most of the ingenious grafts attempted by Omega Force actually come from its most successful licensed musou. That said, the Japanese developer should at least be given credit for having expertly mixed so many devilries without saturating the gameplay of the product. Compared to Dynasty Warriors 9, the brand new Dynasty Warriors: Origins represents a gigantic improvement, as well as a starting point for the main series of the franchise, which for too many years had unfortunately lost its way. Thanks to the possibility of facing the campaign from a completely new point of view, the title is suitable for both veterans and neophytes, who could take advantage of the notable gameplay and technical progress to get closer to the brand and let themselves be transported by the events of the Three Kingdoms.

Funko Fusion reconstructs worlds extracted from films, cartoons and series with a fair amount of effectiveness on the aesthetic front. The character models are also of good quality, as are the effects. Unfortunately, the gameplay, the fights and the puzzles are much less refined and perhaps the most serious shortcoming is yet another: the game has little soul, and uses the action figures involved less than it should. In short, it would have been better not to bring the Funko Pops to life. They are definitely better off standing still on our shelves.